Brother GT-3 Series Operating manual

All useful information to succeed in your printing business
THE GT-3 SERIES
A maintenance guide for all GT-3 Series users
v2.1

> Mandatory Temperature & Humidity Requirements :
18
MIN
TEMPERATURE
30
MAX
C
°
°
HUMIDITY
45
MIN
85
MAX
%
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
There are several maintenance procedures that must be performed on a daily, weekly, or
prompted basis to help keeping your printer performing properly.
This guide will list the maintenance items that must be performed.
Please see the individual technical guide for each specic maintenance procedure for step by step instructions.
> HOW TO DO A PRINT HEAD CLEANING ?
Only a few nozzles missing, then Head Cleaning >Normal Cleaning ... and select PH + OK
If more then 10 nozzles, perform Head Cleaning >Powerful Cleaning ... and select PH + OK
Perform a new Nozzle Test to check the result and redo if not all nozzles are ring
PHC
FIRST BASIC STEPS
OVERVIEW OF GT3 MAINTENANCE
1
Switch on the printer and insert a USB stick.
Go to the menu: Maintenance > Log copy to USB
HOW TO CREATE A LOG FILE ?
> HOW TO DO A NOZZLE TEST ?
Always place the Platen at level A
Menu > Test Print > Nozzle Check CMYK > OK to check colors on white paper sheet
Menu > Test Print > Nozzle Check White > OK to check whites on transparent or black sheet
If not all the nozzles are ring, start a Head Cleaning
NZC
!
TO BE DONE EVERY WORKING DAY
FIRST BASIC STEPS

>
After performing the daily maintenance on the white ink,
a nozzle check should be printed to verify the print quality !
DAILY MAINTENANCE
If the printer has printed with white ink within the last eighteen hours...
18H
-
> White Agitation
> Shaking White Ink
The White ink contains titanium dioxide which helps provide vibrancy.
This will separate after being stationary for more than eighteen hours.
Dull prints will result if the ink is not agitated before use. Put the white ink cartridge
upside down and shake it side to side and tip end over end for 45-60 seconds.
> TIP
+PHCNZC &
If the printer has printed with white ink a minimum of 15 T-shirts the day
before...
minimum
If the printer has NOT printed with white ink a minimum of 15 T-shirts the
day before...
minimum
If the printer has NOT printed with white ink within the last eighteen hours
18H
+
Then the could be performed instead of
directly after the SWI
minimum
>WA
2
Firmware version 3.00 or higher
White Tube Flush
+> No matter if you will have to do the or , you must BEFORE !
WA SWI
WTF
SWI
Then the must be performed after the
minimum
>WTF
WTF

White ink requires weekly maintenance. The white ink tubes needs a weekly cleaning.
CMYK inks does only requires quarterly maintenance.
The LCD Display will prompt you when the White Tube Cleaning should be performed.
The prompt will appear seven days after the completion of the previous White Tube
Cleaning.
> WEEKLY MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE
> White Tube Cleaning
> MAINTENANCE CARTRIDGES WHITE
Menu > Maintenance > White Tube Cleaning > All Whites > OK and follow instructions on the display
Menu > Maintenance > Load White > All Whites > OK and follow instructions on the display
WEEKLY MAINTENANCE
This action washes away the pigments inside the Tubes and Print Heads but also cleans
the Tubes of the Maintenance Station.
It is very important for the long life of your printer!
When you execute this menu all-in-one time, you can retrieve the White Ink before
Tube Cleaning. It takes time but you can save the cost of the lost ink.
If you select the Tubes separately one by one then the White Ink will not be retrieved.
Directly after , perform a with freshly shaken White ink :
Because of the ltering sytem, this cartridge is a consumable part !
Use a new one after you nish 4bottles of Maintenance Solution [5Kg/5L of GC-50S5K] or
after one year passes.
Use the label to checkmark the number of bottles used or/and the starting date.
After performing the White ink loading,
a nozzle check should be printed.
+PHCNZC &
Please note that 1 week after the you will be prompted by the
display to perform a new automatically.
WTC
WTC
week
1
days
7
3
!
TO BE DONE EVERY WEEK
WTC Load White
1234

GT-3 Series
1234

W

Visual inspection is important to keep your printer up and running.
Verify all the moving parts of the machine and also check for leakage of ink.
After you have done the WTC, take the opportunity to clean the rubber Wiper Blades
to avoid the white ink to dry and stay on the Wiper. It will prevent dry particules of ink to
block the nozzles during the next cleaning.
Also clean all the caps of the maintenance station (specially the rectangle lip) to remove
again dry ink but also some u and lint of the T-shirts. They will allow the air to pass
through the capping station and reduce the good suction of the pump.
The wiper cleans the underside of the print heads to allow the
nozzles to re properly. The wiper is cleaned by passing across
the wiper cleaner.
Once this cleaner is dirty or over saturated, the wiper edge can
no longer be cleaned and therefore no longer clean the nozzle
plates.
Apply cleaning solution to a swab and wipe across the front
and backside of the 2 wiper rubber blades.
Check the wiper edge for any tear or separation from the metal base. If any exists, the
wiper sub-assembly must be replaced by a new one.
Once the wipers are clean, the rubbers caps must be cleaned with the swabs as well.
The rims of the cap rubbers press against the bottom of the print head’s CLP, to form a
seal so air cannot dry the heads. If the rims of the caps have debris, dried or excessive
ink, the ink will back away from the membrane and nozzles will misre.
If this continues over time, the print head will dry and eventually become defective.
Power on the printer. The printer will boot up as normal except it will drain each cap,
one at a time, before it moves the carriage.
Moisten a swab as done for the wiper blade cleaning, and
swab the edges and the inside of the rubber caps.
Use one side of a swab per cap so you do not contaminate
one color to another, from Yto Cto Mto K.
Clean White caps also !
Once all of the caps have been cleaned, insert the new wiper
cleaners in place. The wiper blades should be in the center,
between the two sets of 4 rubber caps.
> WEEKLY ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE
> RUBBER CAPS CLEANING :
> WIPER BLADES CLEANING :
C
MY
K
ADDITIONAL WEEKLY MAINTENANCE
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB3635001
4
!
TO BE DONE EVERY WEEK
!
TO BE DONE EVERY WEEK

Load White
Load White
Week
361
381
Mon
> WHITE Maintenance Standard Procedure for GT3 Series
W
1
2
3
Tue
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
LW
LW
LW
LW
Wed
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
Thu
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
Fri Sat
-
-
-
-
Sun
-
-
-
-
4
White Tube Cleaning
Shaking White Ink Everyday before operating !
+
Shaking White Ink Everyday before operating !
+
White Tube Flush
White Agitation
Week
361
381
> 5 working days a week example Min. 15 white prints a day !
W
WTC
1
WTF
2
WTC
3
WTF
Tue
WA
WA
WA
WA
Wed
WA
WA
WA
WA
Thu
WA
WA
WA
WA
Fri
WA
WA
WA
WA
Sat
-
-
-
-
Sun
-
-
-
-
4
Week
361
381
Mon
> 3 or 4 working days a week example Min. 15 white prints a day !
W
WTC LW
LW
1
2
WTC
3
Tue
WA
WA
Wed
WA
WA
Thu
WTF
WA
WA
Fri
WA
WA
WE
-
-
-
-
4
White Tube Cleaning White Tube Flush
Cleaning & Greasing
+
WTC
WTC
WTC
WTC
+
+
WTC LW
WTC LW
+
+
+
+
+
+
LW
LW
Mon
+
+
Load White
Load White
Week
361
381
Mon
> WHITE Maintenance Standard Procedure for GT3 Series
W
1
2
3
Tue
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
LW
LW
LW
LW
Wed
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
Thu
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
WTF
Fri Sat
-
-
-
-
Sun
-
-
-
-
4
White Tube Cleaning
Shaking White Ink Everyday before operating !
+
Shaking White Ink Everyday before operating !
+
White Tube Flush
White Agitation
Week
361
381
> 5 working days a week example Min. 15 white prints a day !
W
WTC
1
WTF
2
WTC
3
WTF
Tue
WA
WA
WA
WA
Wed
WA
WA
WA
WA
Thu
WA
WA
WA
WA
Fri
WA
WA
WA
WA
Sat
-
-
-
-
Sun
-
-
-
-
4
Week
361
381
Mon
> 3 or 4 working days a week example Min. 15 white prints a day !
W
WTC LW
LW
1
2
WTC
3
Tue
WA
WA
Wed
WA
WA
Thu
WTF
WA
WA
Fri
WA
WA
WE
-
-
-
-
4
White Tube Cleaning White Tube Flush
Cleaning & Greasing
+
WTC
WTC
WTC
WTC
+
+
WTC LW
WTC LW
+
+
+
+
+
+
LW
LW
Mon
+
+
ONLY FOR USERS PRINTING A MINIMUM OF 15 PRINTS
WITH WHITE INK ON BLACK OR DARK T-SHIRTS A DAY !!!
>
minimum
minimum
MAINTENANCE with WHITE AGITATION SCHEDULE
STANDARD MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
STANDARD MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
5

> MONTHLY MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE
Monthly Maintenance has to be performed on top of the Daily & Weekly Maintenance.
The purpose is to keep the printer in the best status for printing without problems.
Remember that it is better to spent 15 minutes every month than to be with machine
down for several days !
We recommend you to do the cleaning and greasing of the CR shaft, cleaning CR rail
and a good visual inspection of the printer.
Unscrew the knob on the felt supports and
remove them.
Pour a little alcohol (95% or higher) on a
cloth and clean the rail thoroughly.
Remove and replace the felts on the bottom
of the felt supports in accordance with the
“Maintenance Parts Exchange”.
Pour alcohol (95% or higher) on a cloth and
clean the carriage shaft thoroughly.
When clean, coat the shaft with Molykote 30
white grease.
Don’t forget to grease between the 2 bearings
in the middle of the carriage.
MOLYKOTE 30
CLEAN the rail with ALCOHOL 95°
Reattach both felt supports and tighten the knob screw.
Add also a little bit of Molykote 30 grease at the bronze sprocket of the CR Motor.
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB3229001
MONTHLY MAINTENANCE
CARRIAGE SHAFT CLEANING & GREASING
CARRIAGE RAIL CLEANING
After cleaning & greasing the Carriage Shaft and cleaning the Carriage Rail
please, always perform a CR Speed Adjustment on the machine !
!
6

MAINTENANCE PARTS EXCHANGE
> MAINTENANCE PARTS EXCHANGE PROCEDURE :
PH Cl.
80
The 2 wiper cleaners , the fan lter, the ushing tray sponge and felt pads, and the
carriage felt pads need to be replaced in the MPE procedure.
The prompt to “Exchange Maintenance Parts” will occur after EIGHTY head cleanings
(normal, powerful, or auto).
Normally after this amount of cleanings, the wiper cleaner will be saturated to the point
where the wiper can no longer be cleaned. When this happens, the nozzle plate will not
be cleared and the nozzles may be blocked or the ring may be misdirected.
Menu > Maintenance > Maintenance Parts Exchange > OK follow instructions and turn o printer
It is important that you use this menu and not another one to replace MPE
parts because it will reset the internal counter to zero!
!
7
> FLUSHING TRAY FELT & SPONGE REPLACEMENT :
Insert the felt into the ushing plate.
Place the sponge on top of the felt.
Install back the assembled ushing plate into the machine.
Check that the ushing plate is well inserted and sittting in
an horizontal position to avoid touching the PH’s in move-
ment !
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB 3004001 +SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB 3005001
REPLACE those 2
SPONGE & FELT
ACTION TIMINGPARTS
WIPER CLEANER
FLUSHING SPONGE
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
Display:
Wiper
Cleaner
Flushing
Sponge
> Replacing Consumables on the GT3
Replace the Wiper Cleaner
Display: Replace Flushing Plate Sponge
ROLLER FELTS REPLACEMENT
Roller
Felts Display: Replace the Roller Felt
FAN FILTER REPLACEMENT
Fan
Filter Display: Replace the Wiper Cleaner
FLUSHING FELT REPLACEMENT
Flushing
Felt Display: Replace Flushing Plate Sponge
> Cleaning and Replacing Consumables on the GT3
Flushing Plate Sponge Exchange
Roller Felt Exchange
Wiper Cleaner Exchange
REPLACE THE FLUSHING SPONGE & FLUSHING FELT
REPLACE THE ROLLER FELT & FAN FILTER
Display Message : ACTION to perform :
CLEAN RUBBER CAPS & WIPER BLADES [to be done every weeks anyway]
REPLACE THE WIPER CLEANER+
REPLACE THE ROLLER FELT & FAN FILTER
+

> WIPER CLEANER REPLACEMENT :
The Wiper Cleaner needs to be replaced reg-
ularly according to MPE or visual inspection.
Clean the Print Head Caps and Wiper Blade
before replacing the Wiper Cleaner !
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB3101001
> FAN FILTER REPLACEMENT :
The fan lter collects the mist from the print head spray from
the exhaust provided by the fan.
> Remember to place the new lter with the “Coarse” side in-
serted into the bracket.
> The air ow should enter the rougher side.
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB3018001
COARSE
AIR FLOW FINE
> CARRIAGE FELTS REPLACEMENT [now Roller Felts] :
The Carriage contains 2 brackets on the front edge that
hold 4 felt pads onto Velcro inserts.
The carriage assembly has 2 wheels that ride along the front
rail.
The pads keep the rail clean to help allow the carriage move
unrestricted and smooth.
Be carefull not to bend the 2 brackets, it may end up with errors
(i.e. 6107. 6108) and also, do NOT put oil on the felts !
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB 2652101
8

HOW TO CLEAN THE ENCODER STRIP?
Loosen the four (or three, depending of model) black
thumb screws (do not remove them completely) of the
encoder cover, and remove the cover.
Slide the carriage to the right side of the machine.
Take the encoder cleaning tool, and apply isopropyl
alcohol (95% or higher) to the felt portion.
Gently slide the tool across the encoder strip, remem-
bering to move the carriage to get the other side of the
strip.
Once done 2 or 3 times, remove the encoder tool being
very careful not to damage the strip.
Attach the cover back and tighten the 3 or 4 thumb
screws.
Turn the machine on.
Menu > Maintenance > CR Encoder Strip Cleaning > OK
4 or 3
ALCOHOL 95°
After cleaning the Encoder Strip, perform a
CR Speed Adjustment on the machine !
!
HOW TO CLEAN THE PRINT HEAD NOZZLES ?
Go to the menu: Maintenance > Nozzle Cleaning follow instructions and turn o printer
With Cleaning sticks and cleaning uid...
> Clean the outside of the nozzle metal plate (Green aria = CLP)
With Clean Applicator sticks and cleaning uid...
> Clean the surface of the small inner plate with nozzles, only in
one direction without pressure! Hold the stick by his end!
1
2
1
2
CLP
NOZZLE PL AT E
!
TO BE DONE EVERY WEEK
9

0
MIN
TEMPERATURE
40
MAX
C
°
°
SUNLIGHT
AVOID DIRECT
EXPOSURE
> Please keep in mind when storing the inks:
NEW SUPPLY MAINTENANCE KITS AVAILABLE FOR GT3
> FULL MAINTENANCE KIT :
> FILTER FELT KIT :
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB5678001
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB5677001
2 x Wiper Cleaner SB3101001
10 x Clean Stick SB4000098
1 x Flushing Sponge SB3004001
1 x Flushing Felt SB3005001
1 x Fan Filter SB3018001
4 x CR Felts SB2652101
2 x Gloves - - -
10 x Clean Applicator SB4000099
1 x Wash Liquid SB5679001
10 x Clean Stick SB4000098
3 x Flushing Sponge SB3004001
3 x Flushing Felt SB3005001
3 x Fan Filter SB3018001
12 x CR Felt SB2652101
INK STORAGE RECOMMENDATIONS
MAINTENANCE PARTS INCLUDED IN CARTRIDGES
With each White, Cyan & Magenta cartridge, you will receive a Wiper Cleaner and a
pair of plastic gloves.
! !
! !
! !
GC-30X38
GT-3 Series
W
C
M
= +
10

OTHER USEFUL SPARE PARTS AVAILABLE @ BROTHER
> CLEANING STICKS :
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: N40000598
100 x Clean Stick for Caps and CLP plate cleaning (short rectangular model)
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: N40000599
100 x Clean Applicator for Nozzle plate cleaning (long cylindrical model)
> WASH LIQUID :
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB5679001
1 x 50cc Wash Liquid for cleaning Caps, Wiper blade, CLP plate and
Nozzles
> METAL GAUGE :
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB3169001
1 x Metal Gauge for good positioning of the Maintenance Station after cleaning
> WIPER ASSY :
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB3635001
1 x Wiper Assy for cleaning the surface of the Print Heads
11

According to the Instruction Manual, this Capping Cartridge White should be
placed in the machine after WTC for long term storage [i.e. Holidays ].
This Maintenance Cartridge for CMYK should be used to perform the every
three months. It is the only way to clean easily all the little color tubes inside the
Maintenance station and keep a good suction of the pump to clean PrintHeads.
> It is also a consumable like the MNT Cartridge for White. Mark the date or check the 5L bottles.
12
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB 3006001
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB 3047001
+SPARE PARTS NUMBER: SB 3265201
> CAP FELT :
> CAPPING CARTRIDGE WHITE:
> MAINTENANCE CARTRIDGE for CMYK :
When needed, you can replace the Cap Felt
sitting in between the two sets of four caps.
Just lift it and place a new one instead.
1234

GT-3 Series
1234

GT-3 Series
SB3047001
W
!
TO BE USED for QUARTERLY MAINTENANCE
CTC

In 341 mode, the white heads will not be purged automatically.
This means that the wiper will do his job in dry condition.
THIS WILL DAMAGE ALL WHITE PRINT HEADS WITH NO WARRANTY !
> NEVER CHANGE MACHINE MODE TO 341 MODE WHEN WHITE HEADS ARE IN THE MACHINE!
> 341 Mode should only be used when white printheads are NOT installed.
Maybe just at installation, when customer decides to use white ink much later
Company Name:
Representative:
Email address:
Phone number:
Daily Maintenance Regular maintenance
Preparation for Storage
+ Clean the Caps & Wipers
+ Insert Capping Cartridges
Every 2 Weeks
Side
W W W W
Side
C M Y K
White Tube Cleaning
Color Tube Cleaning
Preparation for Storage
NONE
NONE
NONE
Print W. Nozzle Check
NONE
> once a Week !
Side
Side
W W W W
C M Y K
White Tube Cleaning
NZC
Clean the Caps & Wipers
+ Load Wash Liquid in Caps
Load Maintenance Solution in White tubes*
+ Capping Cartridges
* via Load White and MNT Cartridge with MNT solution instead of White ink cartridge
+ in any case, clean the CLP of all Print Heads before storage! [see page 10]
+ clean Wiper Blades & rubber Caps [see page 4] + insert new Wiper Cleaners [see page 7]
> If printer is only used for Color printing [no White] C M Y K
> If printer will NOT work at all, for more than 2 weeks
Only
341 MODE
MAINTENANCE FOR LONG TERM STORAGE
MAINTENANCE BEFORE LONG TERM STORAGE
HOW TO CONTACT MY DEALER ;-)
CONTACT DETAILS OF BROTHER DEALER
CONTACT DETAILS OF BROTHER DEALER
13

1. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS P 1
2. OVERVIEW OF GT3 MAINTENANCE P 1
3. FIRST BASIC STEPS P 1
4. HOW TO CREATE A LOG FILE P 1
5. DAILY MAINTENANCE P 2
6. WEEKLY MAINTENANCE P 3
7. ADDITIONAL WEEKLY MAINTENANCE P 4
8. STANDARD MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE P 5
9. MAINTENANCE WITH WHITE AGITATION SCHEDULE P 5
10. MONTHLY MAINTENANCE P 6
11. CARRIAGE SHAFT CLEANING & GREASING P 6
12. CARRIAGE RAIL CLEANING P 6
13. MAINTENANCE PARTS EXCHANGE P 7 + P 8
14. HOW TO CLEAN PRINTHEAD NOZZLES P 9
15. HOW TO CLEAN ENCODER STRIP P 9
16. INK STORAGE RECOMMENDATIONS P 10
17. NEW SUPPLY MAINTENANCE KITS AVAILABLE FOR GT3 P 10
18. MAINTENANCE PARTS INCLUDED IN CARTRIDGES P 10
19. OTHER USEFUL SPARE PARTS AVAILABLE P 11 + 12
20. MAINTENANCE BEFORE LONG TERM STORAGE P 13
21. 341 MODE P 13
22. CALENDAR FOR BROTHER GT3 SERIES PRINTERS MAINTENANCE
Brother Internationale
Industriemaschinen GmbH
Düsseldorfer Straße 7-9
46446 Emmerich am Rhein
Phone: +[49]-[0] 2822 / 6 09 - 0
FAX: +[49]-[0] 2822 / 6 09 - 50
E-Mail: [email protected]om
Web: www.brother-industrial.com
CONTENTS:

> Calendar for Brother GT3 Series printers maintenance
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
WEEKENDS: White Tube Flush: White Agitation: White Tube Cleaning: Load White: Shaft Cleaning & Greas.: Mainten. Parts Exch.: Caps Cleaning: Wiper Cleaning: Encoder Cleaning: Rail Cleaning :
January February March
April May June
July August September
October November December
2015 2016 2017
2018 2019 2020
MONTH
YEAR
DATES:
DAILY MAINTENANCE
Shaking White Ink
+
White Agitation
If or 18H
-
15
minimum
If not or
15
minimum White Tube FLush
18H
+
CR Shaft Cleaning
CR Rail Cleaning
Visual Checking
MONTHLY MAINTENANCE
+ + +
Visual Checking
+
White Tube Cleaning
Rubber Caps Cleaning
Wiper Blade Cleaning
WEEKLY MAINTENANCE
+ + +
Color Tube Cleaning
QUARTERLY MNT
+
+Maintenance Parts Exchange when prompted !
+ ++
Check the maintenance manual for full details !
Color Tube Cleaning: